Oil prices touch above $90 level

The Turkey-Kurdish situation is creating uncertainty

Oil prices have broken through $90 a barrel for the first time, lifted by the low dollar and ongoing concerns over tensions in eastern Turkey.
US light crude rose to $90.02 in late Thursday trading in New York, before pulling back to $89.39 in early Friday trade in Europe.

Meanwhile, London's Brent had fallen back 30 cents to $84.30 from its overnight close of $84.60.

The weak dollar has made oil a more attractive investment.

The greenback remains near record lows against the euro, and a three-week low against the yen, not helped by weak US jobs and manufacturing data on Thursday.

This has increased expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut US interest rates further from the current 4.75% later this month.

Turkish concern

The tension in eastern Turkey centres on possible military action by the Turkish army against Kurdish rebels operating from across the Iraqi border.

Earlier this week the Turkish parliament approved a government plan to carry out excursions across the border, though imminent military action is not expected.

Oil producers' cartel Opec has hinted that it may boost output to help reduce prices.

Nigerian oil minister Odein Ajumogobia said Opec leaders could now meet as early as 17 November, three weeks ahead of their next planned meeting.

Oil prices have quadrupled since 2002 because of strong demand from fast-growing economies such as China and India, allied to instability in oil-producing nations in the Middle East and Africa.